FINGERPRINT DETECTION DEVICE AND DISPLAY DEVICE
According to an aspect, a fingerprint detection device includes: a substrate; a plurality of drive electrodes provided on one surface side of the substrate and arranged in a first direction; and a plurality of detection electrodes provided on the one surface side and arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The detection electrodes intersect the drive electrodes in a normal direction of the substrate. Each of the detection electrodes includes: a plurality of first line portions; a plurality of second line portions extending in a direction intersecting the first line portions; and a plurality of bent portions each connecting one of the first line portions and one of the second line portions adjacent to the one of the first line portions to each other.
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2018/036178, filed on Sep. 28, 2018, which claims priority to Japanese Application No. 2017-191844, filed on Sep. 29, 2017. The contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND 1. Technical FieldThe present disclosure relates to a fingerprint detection device and a display device.
2. Description of the Related ArtA display device including a liquid crystal panel or the like may be provided with a fingerprint sensor in some cases. A fingerprint sensor of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2001-52148 detects a capacitance change corresponding to a recess or protrusion of a fingerprint to detect the shape of a fingerprint of a finger being in contact with the display device. A detection result of the fingerprint sensor is used for personal authentication, for example. The surface of the fingerprint sensor is provided with a cover glass. When a finger is in contact with or proximity to the surface of the cover glass, the fingerprint sensor can detect its fingerprint.
Electrodes in a fingerprint detection region reflect light entering from the cover glass side. When the fingerprint detection region is arranged at a position overlapping with a display region of the display device, the reflection of light by the electrodes in the fingerprint detection region may lead to unintended patterns (e.g., moire and a light reflecting pattern) that can be visually recognized.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a fingerprint detection device and a display device that can reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns.
SUMMARYAccording to an aspect, a fingerprint detection device includes: a substrate; a plurality of drive electrodes provided on one surface side of the substrate and arranged in a first direction; and a plurality of detection electrodes provided on the one surface side and arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The detection electrodes intersect the drive electrodes in a normal direction of the substrate. Each of the detection electrodes includes: a plurality of first line portions; a plurality of second line portions extending in a direction intersecting the first line portions; and a plurality of bent portions each connecting one of the first line portions and one of the second line portions adjacent to the one of the first line portions to each other.
According to another aspect, a fingerprint detection device includes: a substrate; a plurality of drive electrodes provided on one surface side of the substrate and arranged in a first direction; and a plurality of detection electrodes provided on the one surface side and arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction. Each of the drive electrodes includes: a plurality of electrode portions arranged spaced apart from each other in a plan view; and a plurality of connecting portions each connecting adjacent electrode portions of the electrode portions to each other. Each of the electrode portions has a shape including two sides parallel to the drive electrodes. Each of the detection electrodes passes through a gap between the adjacent electrode portions and intersects the connecting portions in a plan view.
According to still another aspect, a display device includes: a display panel; and a fingerprint detection device arranged facing the display panel, the fingerprint detection device including: a substrate; a plurality of drive electrodes provided on one surface side of the substrate and arranged in a first direction; and a plurality of detection electrodes provided on the one surface side and arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The detection electrodes intersect the drive electrodes in a normal direction of the substrate. Each of the detection electrodes includes: a plurality of first line portions; a plurality of second line portions extending in a direction intersecting the first line portions; and a plurality of bent portions each connecting one of the first line portions and one of the second line portions adjacent to the one of the first line portions to each other.
Exemplary aspects (embodiments) according to the present disclosure are described below in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The contents described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Components described below include components easily conceivable by those skilled in the art and components substantially identical therewith. Furthermore, the components described below can be appropriately combined. The disclosure is given by way of example only, and various changes made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure and easily conceivable by those skilled in the art are naturally included in the scope of the disclosure. The drawings may possibly illustrate the width, the thickness, the shape, and the like of each unit more schematically than the actual aspect to simplify the explanation. These elements, however, are given by way of example only and are not intended to limit interpretation of the present disclosure. In the specification and the drawings, components similar to those previously described with reference to a preceding drawing are denoted by like reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be appropriately omitted. In this disclosure, when an element A is described as being “on” another element B, the element A can be directly on the other element B, or there can be one or more elements between the element A and the other element B.
First EmbodimentAs illustrated in
The shapes of the cover member 80, the fingerprint sensor 10, and the display panel 30 are not limited to be rectangular in a plan view, and may be circular, oval, or an odd shape with part of these outer shape lacked. The shape of the cover member 80 is not limited to be plate-shaped. When the display region AA and the fingerprint detection region FA each have a curved surface or the frame region GA has a curved surface curving toward the display panel 30, for example, the cover member 80 may have a curved surface. In this case, the display device is a curved surface display having a fingerprint detection function and can detect a fingerprint also on the curved surface of the curved surface display. A “plan view” indicates a case when viewed from a direction perpendicular to one surface 101a of a substrate 101 illustrated in
As illustrated in
The fingerprint sensor 10 is a detector for detecting a recess or protrusion on the surface of a finger Fin or the like being in contact with or in proximity to the first surface 80a of the cover member 80. As illustrated in
One surface of the fingerprint sensor 10 is stuck to the second surface 80b of the cover member 80 with an adhesive layer 71, whereas the other surface thereof is stuck to a polarizing plate 35 of the display panel 30 with an adhesive layer 72. Each of the adhesive layer 71 and the adhesive layer 72 is an adhesive or a resin having translucency, and allows visible light to pass therethrough.
The display panel 30 includes: a pixel substrate 30A; a counter substrate 30B; a polarizing plate 34 provided below the pixel substrate 30A; and the polarizing plate 35 provided above the counter substrate 30B. An IC for display (not illustrated) for controlling a display operation of the display panel 30 is connected to the pixel substrate 30A via a flexible substrate 75. In the present embodiment, the display panel 30 is a liquid crystal panel, in which a liquid crystal element is used as a display function layer. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this example, and the display panel 30 may be an organic EL display panel, for example. The IC for detection and the IC for display described above may be provided on a control substrate outside a module. Alternatively, the IC for detection may be provided on the substrate 101 of the fingerprint sensor 10 (refer to
The drive electrodes Tx are arranged in a first direction Dx. The drive electrodes Tx extend in a second direction Dy. The detection electrodes Rx are arranged in the second direction Dy. The detection electrodes Rx extend in the first direction Dx. In this manner, the detection electrodes Rx extend in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the drive electrodes Tx. The detection electrodes Rx are each connected to the flexible substrate 75 provided on a short side of the frame region GA of the substrate 101 via frame wiring (not illustrated). In the present embodiment, the drive electrodes Tx employs a conductive material having translucency such as ITO. As illustrated in
Capacitance is formed at each of intersections between the detection electrodes Rx and the drive electrodes Tx. When a mutual capacitance touch detection operation is performed in the fingerprint sensor 10, a drive electrode driver 15 sequentially selects the drive electrodes Tx in a time division manner, and supplies a drive signal Vs to the selected drive electrode Tx. A detection signal Vdet corresponding to a capacitance change by the recess or protrusion on the surface of the finger or the like being in contact with or in proximity to the cover member 80 is output from the detection electrodes Rx, whereby fingerprint detection is performed. The drive electrode driver 15 may sequentially select each drive electrode block including a plurality of drive electrodes Tx and drive the drive electrodes Tx.
While
The following describes a detailed configuration of the fingerprint detection device.
The detection controller 11 is a circuit for controlling detection operations of the fingerprint sensor 10. The drive electrode driver 15 is a circuit for supplying a drive signal Vs for detection to the drive electrodes Tx of the fingerprint sensor 10 based on a control signal supplied from the detection controller 11. The detection electrode selection circuit 14 selects the detection electrodes Rx of the fingerprint sensor 10 based on a control signal supplied from the detection controller 11 to connect the selected detection electrodes Rx to the detector 40.
The detector 40 is a circuit for detecting the recess or protrusion on the surface of the finger or the like being in contact with or in proximity to the first surface 80a of the cover member 80 based on a control signal supplied from the detection controller 11 and the detection signal Vdet output from the detection electrodes Rx to detect the shape of a fingerprint. The detector 40 includes a detection signal amplifier 42, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 43, a signal processor 44, a coordinates extractor 45, a synthesizer 46, and a detection timing controller 47. The detection timing controller 47 performs control to cause the detection signal amplifier 42, the A/D converter 43, the signal processor 44, the coordinates extractor 45, and the synthesizer 46 to operate in synchronization with each other based on a control signal supplied from the detection controller 11.
The detection signal Vdet is supplied to the detection signal amplifier 42 of the detector 40 from the fingerprint sensor 10. The detection signal amplifier 42 amplifies the detection signal Vdet. The A/D converter 43 converts an analog signal output from the detection signal amplifier 42 into a digital signal.
The signal processor 44 is a logic circuit for detecting whether the finger is in contact with or in proximity to the fingerprint sensor 10 based on an output signal of the A/D converter 43. The signal processor 44 performs processing to extract a differential signal of detection signals (an absolute value |ΔV|) generated by the finger. The signal processor 44 compares the absolute value |ΔV| with a certain threshold voltage. If this absolute value |ΔV| is less than the threshold voltage, the signal processor determines that the finger is in a non-contact state. On the other hand, if the absolute value |ΔV| is the threshold voltage or greater, the signal processor 44 determines that the finger is in a contact-or-proximity state. In this manner, the detector 40 can detect the contact or proximity of the finger.
The coordinates extractor 45 is a logic circuit that, when the contact or proximity of the finger is detected by the signal processor 44, determines its detected coordinates. The coordinates extractor 45 outputs the detected coordinates to the synthesizer 46. The synthesizer 46 combines the detection signal Vdet output from the fingerprint sensor 10 to generate two-dimensional information indicating the shape of the finger being in contact with or in proximity to the fingerprint sensor 10. The synthesizer 46 outputs the two-dimensional information as output Vout of the detector 40. Alternatively, the synthesizer 46 may generate an image based on the two-dimensional information and make image information serve as the output Vout.
The IC for detection described above functions as the detector 40 illustrated in
The fingerprint sensor 10 operates based on the basic principle of capacitance type detection. The following describes the basic principle of mutual capacitance detection by the fingerprint sensor 10 with reference to
As illustrated in
When the AC signal source S applies an AC rectangular wave Sg at a predetermined frequency (e.g., a frequency of several kilohertz to several hundred kilohertz) to the drive electrode E1 (one end of the capacitance element C1), an output waveform (the detection signal Vdet) as illustrated in
In a state in which the finger is not in contact with or in proximity to the detection electrode E2 (non-contact state), a current corresponding to the capacitance value of the capacitance element C1 flows with charge and discharge of the capacitance element C1. The voltage detector DET illustrated in
On the other hand, in a state in which the finger is in contact with or proximity to the detection electrode E2 (contact state), as illustrated in
In this case, the waveform V2 is smaller in amplitude than the waveform V1 described above. With this relation, the absolute value |ΔV| of a voltage difference between the waveform V1 and the waveform V2 changes in accordance with the influence of an external object being in contact with or in proximity to the detection electrode E2 from the outside such as a finger. In order for the voltage detector DET to accurately detect the absolute value |ΔV| of the voltage difference between the waveform V1 and the waveform V2, the voltage detector DET preferably operates with a period Reset to reset charge and discharge of a capacitor in accordance with the frequency of the AC rectangular wave Sg by switching in the circuit.
The detector 40 compares the absolute value |ΔV| with a certain threshold voltage. If the absolute value |ΔV| is less than the threshold voltage, the detector 40 determines that the finger is in the non-contact state. On the other hand, if the absolute value |ΔV| is the threshold voltage or greater, the detector 40 determines that the finger is in the contact-or-proximity state. When it is determined that the finger is in the contact-or-proximity state, the detector 40 detects a capacitance change by the recess or protrusion on the surface of the finger based on a difference in the absolute value |ΔV|. The drive electrode E1 illustrated in
In the present embodiment, the common electrode 33, the insulating layer 38, and the pixel electrodes 32 are stacked in this order on the first substrate 31. The polarizing plate 34 is provided below the first substrate 31 via an adhesive layer. Thin film transistors (TFT, not illustrated) serving as switching elements for display are provided to the first substrate 31. For example, a conductive material having translucency such as ITO is used for the pixel electrodes 32 and the common electrode 33.
The arrangement of the pixel electrodes 32 is not limited to the matrix arrangement in which the pixel electrodes 32 are arranged in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and may employ an arrangement in which adjacent pixel electrodes 32 are shifted from each other in the first direction or the second direction. Alternatively, the present disclosure can employ a configuration in which, with respect to one pixel electrode 32 constituting a pixel column in the first direction, two or three pixel electrodes 32 are arranged on one side of the one pixel electrode 32, according to a difference in shape between adjacent pixel electrodes 32.
The counter substrate 30B includes a second substrate 36 and a color filter 37 formed on one surface of the second substrate 36. The color filter 37 faces a liquid crystal layer 6 in a direction perpendicular to the first substrate 31. Further, the polarizing plate 35 is provided above the second substrate 36 via an adhesive layer. The color filter 37 may be arranged on the first substrate 31. In the present embodiment, each of the first substrate 31 and the second substrate 36 is a glass substrate or a resin substrate, for example.
The liquid crystal layer 6 is provided between the first substrate 31 and the second substrate 36. The liquid crystal layer 6 modulates light passing therethrough in accordance with the state of an electric field, and employs liquid crystals in a transverse electric field mode such as an in-plane switching (IPS) mode including a fringe field switching (FFS) mode. An orientation film may be provided between the liquid crystal layer 6 and the pixel substrate 30A and between the liquid crystal layer 6 and the counter substrate 30B illustrated in
An illuminator (a backlight, not illustrated) is provided below the first substrate 31. The illuminator has a light source such as a light-emitting diode (LED), for example, and emits light from the light source toward the first substrate 31. The light from the illuminator passes through the pixel substrate 30A, and switching is performed between part of the light to be blocked and not to be emitted and part of the light to be emitted depending on the state of liquid crystals, so that an image is displayed on the display surface (the first surface 80a).
As illustrated in
For example, the first line portions RxL1 extend in a direction intersecting the first direction Dx and the second direction Dy. The second line portions RxL2 also extend in a direction intersecting the first direction Dx and the second direction Dy. The first line portions RxL1 and the second line portions RxL2 are arranged so as to be bilaterally symmetric about a virtual line (not illustrated) parallel to the first direction Dx.
In each of the detection electrodes Rx, an arrangement pitch of bent portions RxB in the first direction Dx is defined as Prx. In adjacent detection electrodes Rx, an arrangement pitch of the bent portions RxB in the second direction Dy is defined as Pry. In the present embodiment, a magnitude relation of Pry<Prx holds, for example.
An arrangement pitch of the drive electrodes Tx in the first direction Dx is defined as Pt. An arrangement pitch in the first direction Dx of the pixel electrodes 32 of the display panel 30 stuck to the fingerprint detection device 100 is defined as Ppix. In the present embodiment, a magnitude relation of the arrangement pitch Pt of the drive electrodes Tx and the arrangement pitch Ppix of the pixel electrodes 32 preferably satisfies the following Expression (1), where n is an integer of 1 or more. With this relation, the fingerprint sensor 10 can reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns (e.g., moire and a light reflecting pattern) in the fingerprint detection region FA.
0.6×(n−1)×Ppix≤Pt≤0.4×n×Ppix (1)
The following describes the shape of the drive electrodes Tx more specifically.
An arrangement pitch of the connecting portions 127 in the first direction Dx is defined as Pb. The arrangement pitch Pb of the connecting portions 127 is preferably 0.5 times the arrangement pitch Pt of the drive electrode Tx. In each of the drive electrodes Tx, the connecting portions 127 are preferably arranged alternately on one side and the other side relative to a virtual line Lcent parallel to the second direction Dy and passing through the center of gravity of the electrode portions 130. With this structure, the connecting portions 127, light transmittance of which is lower than that of the electrode portions 130, are not arranged on a straight line, so that the fingerprint sensor 10 can reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire.
The longitudinal directions of the connecting portions 127 are preferably aligned in one direction. All of the longitudinal directions of the connecting portions 127 of the drive electrodes Tx are the second direction, for example. This structure uniforms the shape of the connecting portions 127 intersecting the detection electrodes Rx, which makes it easy to uniform capacitance between the drive electrodes Tx and the connecting portions 127.
In the fingerprint sensor 10 illustrated in
In the second direction Dy, when a distance between adjacent electrode main bodies 131 is defined as d1, and a distance between adjacent protruding portions 132 is defined as d2, a magnitude relation of d1>d2 holds. When viewed from the normal direction Dz, the detection electrode Rx is arranged so as to overlap with the protruding portions 132 and capacitance generated between the electrode portions 130 and the detection electrode Rx can be reduced, in comparison with a case in which the electrode main bodies 131 and the detection electrode Rx overlap with each other.
As illustrated in
For example, the drive electrodes Tx-1 and Tx-2 intersecting the first line portions RxL1 of the detection electrodes Rx (refer to
The following describes a layer structure of the fingerprint sensor.
As illustrated in
The fingerprint sensor 10 includes: a semiconductor layer 113 formed on the first inter-layer insulating film 111; and a second inter-layer insulating film 121 formed on the first inter-layer insulating film 111 to cover the semiconductor layer 113. The second inter-layer insulating film 121 is provided with contact holes 121H1 and 121H2. The semiconductor layer 113 is exposed at the bottom of the contact holes 121H1 and 121H2. A polysilicon or an oxide semiconductor is used as the material of the semiconductor layer 113. A silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film, or a silicon oxide nitride film is used as the material of the second inter-layer insulating film 121. The second inter-layer insulating film 121 is not limited to a single layer and may be a film with a multilayered structure. The second inter-layer insulating film 121 may be a film with a multilayered structure in which a silicon nitride film is formed on a silicon oxide film, for example.
The fingerprint sensor 10 includes a source electrode 123, a drain electrode 125, and the connecting portions 127 provided on the second inter-layer insulating film 121. The source electrode 123 is embedded in the contact hole 121H1. The drain electrode 125 is embedded in the contact hole 121H2. With this structure, the source electrode 123 is connected to the semiconductor layer 113 via the contact hole 121H1. The drain electrode 125 is connected to the semiconductor layer 113 via the contact hole 121H2. Titanium aluminum (TiAl), which is an alloy of titanium and aluminum, is used as the materials of the source electrode 123, the drain electrode 125, and the connecting portions 127.
The gate electrode 103, the semiconductor layer 113, the source electrode 123, and the drain electrode 125 described above are provided in the frame region GA. The gate electrode 103, the semiconductor layer 113, the source electrode 123, and the drain electrode 125 constitute the thin film transistor Tr in the frame region GA.
The insulating film 129 is provided on the second inter-layer insulating film 121. As described above, the insulating film 129 includes the first insulating film 129A and the second insulating film 129B thinner than the first insulating film 129A. The first insulating film 129A provided in the frame region GA covers the source electrode 123 and the drain electrode 125. The first insulating film 129A provided in the frame region GA is provided with the contact hole 129H. The first insulating film 129A provided in the fingerprint detection region FA covers part of the connecting portion 127 positioned under the detection electrode Rx. The second insulating film 129B provided in the fingerprint detection region FA covers part of the connecting portion 127 positioned under the electrode portion 130. As described above, the second insulating film 129B is provided with the contact hole 129H.
Further, the electrode portions 130 are provided on the second inter-layer insulating film 121. In the fingerprint detection region FA, the peripheral parts of the electrode portions 130 (e.g., the protruding portions 132 illustrated in
In the fingerprint detection region FA, the detection electrodes Rx are provided on the first insulating film 129A. The first insulating film 129A insulates the detection electrodes Rx and the drive electrodes Tx from each other. The detection electrode Rx includes a first metallic layer 141, a second metallic layer 142, and a third metallic layer 143, for example. The second metallic layer 142 is provided on the third metallic layer 143, and the first metallic layer 141 is provided on the second metallic layer 142. Molybdenum or a molybdenum alloy is used as the materials of the first metallic layer 141 and the third metallic layer 143, for example. Aluminum or an aluminum alloy is used as the material of the second metallic layer 142. Molybdenum or a molybdenum alloy forming the first metallic layer 141 has a reflectance of visible light lower than that of aluminum or an aluminum alloy forming the second metallic layer 142.
The insulating film 150 is provided above the insulating film 129, the electrode portions 130, and the detection electrodes Rx. The insulating film 150 covers upper surfaces and side surfaces of the detection electrodes Rx. A film with a high refractive index and a low reflectance such as a silicon nitride film is used as the insulating film 150. Alternatively, the insulating film 150 may be a light-shielding resin film (e.g., a black resin film).
As described above, the fingerprint sensor 10 according to the first embodiment includes the drive electrodes Tx and the detection electrodes Rx both provided on the one surface 101a side of the substrate 101. The drive electrodes Tx are arranged in the first direction Dx. The detection electrodes Rx are arranged in the second direction Dy orthogonal to the first direction Dx. When viewed in the normal direction Dz, the shape of the detection electrodes Rx is a zigzag line. The detection electrodes Rx zigzag in the first direction Dx. Specifically, the detection electrodes Rx have a plurality of first line portions RxL1, a plurality of second line portions RxL2, and a plurality of bent portions RxB. The second line portions RxL2 extend in a direction intersecting the first line portions RxL1. The bent portions RxB connect the first line portions RxL1 and the second line portions RxL2 to each other. With this structure, the fingerprint sensor 10 can reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire, in comparison with a case in which the shape of the detection electrodes Rx when viewed from the normal direction Dz is a straight line.
The drive electrodes Tx have a plurality of electrode portions 130 arranged spaced apart from each other and the connecting portions 127 connecting adjacent electrode portions among the electrode portions 130 to each other. When viewed from the normal direction Dz of the substrate 101, one detection electrode Rx passes through a gap between adjacent electrode portions 130 and intersects the connecting portions 127. With this structure, the electrode portions 130 of the drive electrodes Tx can be arranged along the detection electrodes Rx.
The electrode portions 130 include the first electrode portion 130A and the second electrode portion 130B different in shape from the first electrode portion 130A when viewed from the normal direction Dz. With this structure, the first electrode portions 130A can be arranged along the first line portions RxL1, whereas the second electrode portions 130B can be arranged along the second line portions RxL2. In addition, the separating distance d3 between the electrode main body 131 and the detection electrode Rx can be a constant length. With this structure, the fingerprint sensor 10 can reduce variations in capacitance of the detection electrodes Rx due to the separating distance d3.
The fingerprint sensor 10 further includes the first insulating film 129A arranged between the connecting portion 127 and the detection electrode Rx and the second insulating film 129B arranged between the connecting portion 127 and the electrode portion 130. The second insulating film 129B is thinner than the first insulating film 129A. This structure allows the fingerprint sensor 10 to reduce a level difference of the electrode portion 130 in comparison with a case in which the electrode portion 130 is arranged on the first insulating film 129A. This structure can lower the probability of disconnection in the electrode portion 130. The first insulating film 129A arranged between the connecting portion 127 and the detection electrode Rx is larger in thickness than the second insulating film 129B, and thus can reduce capacitance of the detection electrodes Rx.
The electrode portions 130 are translucent electrodes, whereas the detection electrodes Rx are metallic thin lines. This structure can reduce resistance and capacitance of the detection electrodes Rx. The detection electrodes Rx are metallic thin lines and are thus small in electrode width. This structure can reduce the area covered with the detection electrodes Rx. Consequently, the fingerprint sensor 10 can increase the aperture of the fingerprint detection region FA and increase the translucency of the fingerprint detection region FA.
In the first direction Dx, the ratio of the arrangement pitch Prx of the bent portions RxB to the arrangement pitch Pt of the drive electrodes Tx is preferably 2 or less. With this structure, the fingerprint sensor 10 can reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire.
Modifications
The above has described the first embodiment, in which the electrode portions 130 including the first electrode portion 130A and the second electrode portion 130B different in shape from the first electrode portion 130A as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The fingerprint sensor 10A also has the zigzag detection electrodes Rx. With this structure, the fingerprint sensor 10A can reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire.
As illustrated in
When viewed from the normal direction Dz, each of the shape of the third electrode portion 130C, the shape of the fourth electrode portion 130D, and the shape of the fifth electrode portion 130E is a hexagon having two sides parallel to the first line portions RxL1 and two sides parallel to the second line portions RxL2. When viewed from the normal direction Dz, the shape of the electrode main body 131 of the fifth electrode portion 130E is obtained by vertically flipping the shape of the electrode main body 131 of the fourth electrode portion 130D. With this structure, also in the fingerprint sensor 10B according to the second modification, the electrode main bodies 131 can be arranged along the zigzag detection electrode Rx, and the separating distance d3 between the detection electrode Rx and the electrode main bodies 131 (refer to
The fingerprint sensor 10B also has the zigzag detection electrodes Rx. With this structure, the fingerprint sensor 10B can reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire.
In the present embodiment, the shape of the second electrode portion 130B in a plan view is not limited to the shape described above. The shape of the second electrode portion 130B in a plan view may be a polygon other than a parallelogram. The same as the second electrode portion 130B can be applied to the third electrode portion 130C, the fourth electrode portion 130D, and the fifth electrode portion 130E. Each of the shape of the third electrode portion 130C, the shape of the fourth electrode portion 130D, and the shape of the fifth electrode portion 130E in a plan view may be a parallelogram different from the shape of the first electrode portion 130A, a hexagon other than the shape illustrated in
The above has described the first embodiment exemplified by the mode in which the slits (gaps) between the electrode portions 130 adjacent to each other in the first direction Dx are arranged linearly in the second direction Dy. However, in the present embodiment, the slits between the electrode portions 130 adjacent to each other in the first direction Dx are not necessarily arranged linearly in the second direction Dy.
The fingerprint sensor 10C also has the zigzag detection electrodes Rx. With this structure, the fingerprint sensor 10C can reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire. In the fingerprint sensor 10C, the slits SL1, light transmittance of which is different from that of the electrode portions 130, are not arranged linearly. With this structure, the fingerprint sensor 10C may be able to further reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire.
The fingerprint sensor according to the present embodiment may include a dummy electrode between the electrode portions 130 adjacent to each other in the first direction Dx. The dummy electrode refers to an electrode that is not connected to other conductive parts and is in a floating state, in which the potential is not fixed.
The fingerprint sensor 10D also has the zigzag detection electrodes Rx. With this structure, the fingerprint sensor 10D can reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire. In the fingerprint sensor 10D, the dummy electrode Dmp with the same material and the same thickness as those of the electrode portions 130 is arranged between the electrode portions 130 adjacent to each other in the first direction Dx. This structure reduces an optical difference between the electrode portions 130, whereby the fingerprint sensor 10D may be able to further reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire.
In the present embodiment, the electrode portions 130 may be provided with slits.
The fingerprint sensor 10E also has the zigzag detection electrodes Rx. With this structure, the fingerprint sensor 10E can further reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire. The fingerprint sensor 10E may be able to further reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire by having the slits SL2 and SL11.
The fingerprint sensor 10F also has the zigzag detection electrodes Rx. With this structure, the fingerprint sensor 10F can reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire. This structure reduces the area of the electrode portions 130, thereby allowing the fingerprint sensor 10F to reduce the capacitance of the detection electrodes Rx.
Second EmbodimentThe above has described the first embodiment in which the connecting portion 127 is connected to the electrode portion 130 via the contact hole 129H. However, in the present embodiment, the connecting portion 127 may be connected to the electrode portion 130 without via a contact hole. The electrode portions 130 adjacent to each other in the second direction Dy may be connected to each other via a conductive film formed simultaneously with the electrode portions 130 at the same process.
As illustrated in
With this configuration, the fingerprint sensor 10G also can reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire. Further, the configuration can reduce the size of the connecting portions 127, and reduce the area occupied by the connecting portions 127. With this structure, the fingerprint sensor 10G can further increase aperture of the fingerprint detection region FA and further increase the translucency of the fingerprint detection region FA.
The fingerprint sensor 10H also has the zigzag detection electrodes Rx. With this structure, the fingerprint sensor 10H can reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire. The slits SL1 are arranged zigzag in the second direction Dy. With this structure, the fingerprint sensor 10H may be able to further reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire.
The fingerprint sensor 10I also has the zigzag detection electrodes Rx. With this structure, the fingerprint sensor 10I can reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire. The slits SL1 are arranged zigzag in the second direction Dy. With this structure, the fingerprint sensor 10I may be able to further reduce the occurrence of unintended patterns such as moire.
Third EmbodimentWith this configuration, the fingerprint sensor 10J can reduce the resistance of the drive electrodes Tx. Further, the fingerprint sensor 10J can reduce the capacitance of the drive electrodes Tx.
Fourth EmbodimentThe drive electrode driver 15 includes a shift register circuit 151 and a buffer circuit 152. The shift register circuit 151 sequentially selects the drive electrodes Tx in a time division manner. The buffer circuit 152 amplifies the drive signal Vs and supplies it to a selected drive electrode Tx. A plurality of power supply lines PL supply power to the buffer circuit 152 from the outside. The power supply lines PL supply power to both ends of the buffer circuit 152 and the central part thereof in the second direction Dy, for example. With this operation, without supplying power from the upper side, power can be directly supplied to the buffer circuit 152 from the outside of the drive electrode driver 15, and a load during power supply is reduced.
As illustrated in
While exemplary embodiments have been described, the embodiments are not intended to limit the present disclosure. The contents disclosed in the embodiments are given by way of example only, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Although a transmissive liquid crystal display device capable of color display has been described as the display device 1 in the first embodiment, for example, the present disclosure is not limited to a transmissive liquid crystal display device supporting color display and may be a transmissive liquid crystal display device for monochrome display. Appropriate modifications made without departing from the gist of the present disclosure also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure.
The fingerprint detection device and the display device of the preset disclosure include the following aspects:
(1) A fingerprint detection device, comprising:
-
- a substrate;
- a plurality of drive electrodes provided on one surface side of the substrate and arranged in a first direction; and
- a plurality of detection electrodes provided on the one surface side and arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction, wherein
- the detection electrodes intersect the drive electrodes in a normal direction of the substrate, and
- each of the detection electrodes includes:
- a plurality of first line portions;
- a plurality of second line portions extending in a direction intersecting the first line portions; and
- a plurality of bent portions each connecting one of the first line portions and one of the second line portions adjacent to the one of the first line portions to each other.
(2) A fingerprint detection device, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of drive electrodes provided on one surface side of the substrate and arranged in a first direction; and
- a plurality of detection electrodes provided on the one surface side and arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction, wherein
- each of the drive electrodes includes:
- a plurality of electrode portions arranged spaced apart from each other in a plan view; and
- a plurality of connecting portions each connecting adjacent electrode portions of the electrode portions to each other,
- each of the electrode portions has a shape including two sides parallel to the drive electrodes, and
- each of the detection electrodes passes through a gap between the adjacent electrode portions and intersects the connecting portions in a plan view.
(3) The fingerprint detection device according to (1), wherein - each of the drive electrodes includes:
- a plurality of electrode portions arranged spaced apart from each other in a plan view; and
- a plurality of connecting portions each connecting adjacent electrode portions of the electrode portions to each other, and
- each of the detection electrodes passes through a gap between the adjacent electrode portions and intersects the connecting portions in a plan view.
(4) The fingerprint detection device according to (2) or (3), wherein each of the electrode portions includes: - a first electrode portion; and
- a second electrode portion different in shape from the first electrode in a plan view.
(5) The fingerprint detection device according to (4), wherein - a shape of the first electrode portion in a plan view is a parallelogram having two sides parallel to the drive electrodes, and
- a shape of the second electrode portion in a plan view is a parallelogram or a polygon having two sides parallel to the drive electrodes and different in shape from the first electrode portion.
(6) The fingerprint detection device according to any one of (3) to (5), further comprising: - a first insulating film arranged between the connecting portions and the corresponding detection electrodes in the normal direction of the substrate; and
- a second insulating film arranged between the connecting portions and the corresponding electrode portions, wherein
- the second insulating film is thinner than the first insulating film.
(7) The fingerprint detection device according to any one of (2) to (6), wherein - the electrode portions are translucent electrodes, and
- the detection electrodes are metallic thin lines.
(8) The fingerprint detection device according to (1), wherein a ratio of an arrangement pitch of the bent portions to an arrangement pitch of the drive electrodes is 2 or less in the first direction.
(9) The fingerprint detection device according to any one of (2) to (6), wherein the connecting portions are arranged alternately on one side and the other side relative to a virtual line passing through the center of gravity of the electrode portions in the second direction.
(10) A display device, comprising: - a display panel; and
- a fingerprint detection device arranged facing the display panel, the fingerprint detection device comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of drive electrodes provided on one surface side of the substrate and arranged in a first direction; and
- a plurality of detection electrodes provided on the one surface side and arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction, wherein
- the detection electrodes intersect the drive electrodes in a normal direction of the substrate, and
- each of the detection electrodes includes:
- a plurality of first line portions;
- a plurality of second line portions extending in a direction intersecting the first line portions; and
- a plurality of bent portions each connecting one of the first line portions and one of the second line portions adjacent to the one of the first line portions to each other.
Claims
1. A fingerprint detection device, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of drive electrodes provided on one surface side of the substrate and arranged in a first direction; and
- a plurality of detection electrodes provided on the one surface side and arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction, wherein
- the detection electrodes intersect the drive electrodes in a normal direction of the substrate, and
- each of the detection electrodes includes: a plurality of first line portions; a plurality of second line portions extending in a direction intersecting the first line portions; and a plurality of bent portions each connecting one of the first line portions and one of the second line portions adjacent to the one of the first line portions to each other.
2. The fingerprint detection device according to claim 1, wherein
- each of the drive electrodes includes: a plurality of electrode portions arranged spaced apart from each other in a plan view; and a plurality of connecting portions each connecting adjacent electrode portions of the electrode portions to each other, and
- each of the detection electrodes passes through a gap between the adjacent electrode portions and intersects the connecting portions in a plan view.
3. The fingerprint detection device according to claim 2, wherein each of the electrode portions includes:
- a first electrode portion; and
- a second electrode portion different in shape from the first electrode in a plan view.
4. The fingerprint detection device according to claim 3, wherein
- a shape of the first electrode portion in a plan view is a parallelogram having two sides parallel to the drive electrodes, and
- a shape of the second electrode portion in a plan view is a parallelogram or a polygon having two sides parallel to the drive electrodes and different in shape from the first electrode portion.
5. The fingerprint detection device according to claim 2, further comprising:
- a first insulating film arranged between the connecting portions and the corresponding detection electrodes in the normal direction of the substrate; and
- a second insulating film arranged between the connecting portions and the corresponding electrode portions, wherein
- the second insulating film is thinner than the first insulating film.
6. The fingerprint detection device according to claim 2, wherein
- the electrode portions are translucent electrodes, and
- the detection electrodes are metallic thin lines.
7. The fingerprint detection device according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of an arrangement pitch of the bent portions to an arrangement pitch of the drive electrodes is 2 or less in the first direction.
8. A fingerprint detection device, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of drive electrodes provided on one surface side of the substrate and arranged in a first direction; and
- a plurality of detection electrodes provided on the one surface side and arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction, wherein
- each of the drive electrodes includes: a plurality of electrode portions arranged spaced apart from each other in a plan view; and a plurality of connecting portions each connecting adjacent electrode portions of the electrode portions to each other,
- each of the electrode portions has a shape including two sides parallel to the drive electrodes, and
- each of the detection electrodes passes through a gap between the adjacent electrode portions and intersects the connecting portions in a plan view.
9. The fingerprint detection device according to claim 8, wherein each of the electrode portions includes:
- a first electrode portion; and
- a second electrode portion different in shape from the first electrode portion in a plan view.
10. The fingerprint detection device according to claim 9, wherein
- a shape of the first electrode portion in a plan view is a parallelogram having two sides parallel to the drive electrodes, and
- a shape of the second electrode portion in a plan view is a parallelogram or a polygon having two sides parallel to the drive electrodes and different in shape from the first electrode portion.
11. The fingerprint detection device according to claim 9, further comprising:
- a first insulating film arranged between the connecting portions and the corresponding detection electrodes in the normal direction of the substrate; and
- a second insulating film arranged between the connecting portions and the corresponding electrode portions, wherein
- the second insulating film is thinner than the first insulating film.
12. The fingerprint detection device according to claim 8, wherein
- the electrode portions are translucent electrodes, and
- the detection electrodes are metallic thin lines.
13. The fingerprint detection device according to claim 8, wherein the connecting portions are arranged alternately on one side and the other side relative to a virtual line passing through the center of gravity of the electrode portions in the second direction.
14. A display device, comprising:
- a display panel; and
- a fingerprint detection device arranged facing the display panel, the fingerprint detection device comprising:
- a substrate;
- a plurality of drive electrodes provided on one surface side of the substrate and arranged in a first direction; and
- a plurality of detection electrodes provided on the one surface side and arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction, wherein
- the detection electrodes intersect the drive electrodes in a normal direction of the substrate, and
- each of the detection electrodes includes: a plurality of first line portions; a plurality of second line portions extending in a direction intersecting the first line portions; and a plurality of bent portions each connecting one of the first line portions and one of the second line portions adjacent to the one of the first line portions to each other.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 26, 2020
Publication Date: Jul 16, 2020
Patent Grant number: 11062111
Inventors: Hayato KURASAWA (Tokyo), Yoshitaka OZEKI (Tokyo), Toshinori UEHARA (Tokyo), Yuji SUZUKI (Tokyo)
Application Number: 16/831,199